Flint Hills Springs

Abstract

Springs are an important component of the Kansas landscape and an aid in understanding the connection between groundwater and surface water and the impact of human activity on the environment. Despite their importance, little information has been collected systematically on springs in Kansas. The Kansas Geological Survey has begun a project that brings together existing information on springs in the State. Using the Flint Hills physiographic region as an example, this paper describes significant and representative springs of the Flint Hills, inventories their location and general water quality, and compares their condition to historical data. In general, water quality and flow rates in Flint Hills springs have remained steady through the years. This is attributed to the lack of cultivation and absence of irrigation, which has likely preserved the native prairie grasses and groundwater conditions.